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"It is now clear that the dividing line in Scotland is between investment and growth with Labour, or cuts and division with the SNP and the Tories."

A Transport Scotland spokesman said: "We have already secured the right for a public-sector operator to bid for a rail franchise in Scotland - after being denied by previous UK governments, which will enable a level playing field between the private and public sector in bidding for rail franchises for the benefit of passengers and best value for the public purse.

"We should not lose sight of the transformational process under way on our railways including the infrastructure enhancements, as well as the introduction of new and fully re-furbished rolling stock with the additional services that they will provide.

"In recent years 160 extra carriages were added to ScotRail's fleet with an extra 200 to follow in the next 12 months giving a 50% increase in carriages since 2007."